Tropical rock

Instrumentation is usually based around an acoustic guitar (as well as electric instrumentation), and often includes steel drums, congas, marimbas, vibraphones, steel guitars, or other percussion instruments to create an "island sound". While country and other musical styles focus on falling in love/falling out of love themes, Trop Rock's main focus is on "escapism"—a laid back lifestyle, tropical places, boating, simplifying and having fun. Jimmy Buffett is often referred to as the "Pop of Trop Rock". Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band helped create a tropical sub-culture beginning in the early to mid-1980s, along with other artists including Bertie Higgins, Jerry Diaz, Barefoot Reggie Starrett, Eric Stone. Mainstream artists Jack Johnson, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney have songs in the trop rock genre, also.

Other popular Trop Rock artists include Brent Burns, Rick Steffen, Johnny Russler & the Beach Bum Band,[7] , the Boat Drunks,[8] Conch Republic,[9] Fins, Howard Livingston, James "Sunny Jim" White, Eric Stone, Barefoot Reggie Starrett, Jimmy & the Parrots, Kelly McGuire, Latitude, and Tropical Soul. Around 2017 a number of female artists began to gain popularity within the genre (which has historically been a male-dominated genre); among the more noteworthy female trop-rockers are Sheree Cade, Dani Hoy, Brittany Kingery, Erica Sunshine Lee, Aubrey Wollett, and Robin Tricker.

In 2005 the Margarita M.A.F.I.A. (music, artists, fans in alliance) was established because founders Tom & Michelle Becker, as well as many others, wanted a united voice regarding Trop Rock music. Two years later an annual awards show was created (now known as the TRMA Music Awards) to recognize the artists, songwriters, musicians, radio stations, fans and others in the genre. In 2012 the Margarita M.A.F.I.A. changed its name to the Trop Rock Music Association (TRMA) to better describe its overall purpose. Due to the significant growth of the genre, in 2018 the organization decided to further expand by creating a new Board of Directors, logo, website, mission statement, and establishment as a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization. [10]

"Parrot Heads in Paradise's (PHiP's) Meeting of the Minds", the national parrot head convention attended by members from all over the world is held each November in Key West, Florida at the Casa Marina Resort. This event now 29 years old features Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band as well as people associated with Jimmy Buffett's music. There are many trop rock musicians on multiple stages at this event. The annual gathering attracts close to 5,000 fans as well as thousands to the lower Keys area. Other than Meeting Of The Minds in Key West, there are dozens of other Trop Rock Music Festivals that take place throughout the year, from coast to coast. [11]

In 2000, WBWC-FM, Dennis King of Island Time Radio began programming this format on the air in Cleveland, Ohio and streaming worldwide on Monday nights. Radio Margaritaville, available on Sirius XM Radio, also plays many of the genre's hits.[12] As the genre flourished with the guidance of the Trop Rock Music Association independently owned internet radio stations began to rise to popularity within the "trop rock" genre to include Radio Trop Rock, Beachfront Radio, Songwriter's Island Radio, Tiki Pod Radio, Tiki Man Radio, Permanent Vacation Radio, Beach Bar Radio,Shore Life Radio, and Oyster Radio. [13]